This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Kurt said: "Geez everyone, calm down. Nothings been done yet. I'm open to new perspectives and corrections. :-) Reasons for using pads: 1. It's the way the original designers intended. Square's shouldn't = sound=20 "that way". (Implies that no improvements have occurred in the intervening 135=20 years/historic sound is better regardless of context.) 2. Beethoven liked it that way/clean cut-off should not be heard in=20 historic pianos. (Implies my client wants to hear the same damper bleed Beethoven did.) I ain't convinced. Not at all. My client is not interested in having a "historically true" restoration. I wasn't hired to do so. He simply wants a piano he can play and enjoy. And his grandchildren and great grandchildren, etc. These nuances of "how a square should play as it was intended" are = actually=20 irrelevant to my client, although not perhaps to the League For The=20 Prevention of Modern Sounding Square Grands". I am a far better pianist than him, and unlike him, I have a good sense = of=20 what is NOT enjoyable, and he trusts me. Heck, I trust me too. :0) What is NOT enjoyable is lousy damper functioning with bleed-over as the = key being played modulates quickly to another key. I AM 100% open to doing what is in the best interest of my client, and = no=20 decision has been made. I'm just somewhat boggled that a choice to have more damper over-ring = than=20 needed is being proposed as desirable simply because of an abstract = notion=20 of having the piano sound as it did in 1876, (which I do appreciate on = it's=20 own as a principle, but not in this real-world context) rather than = having=20 a clean sound for a beginning musician who could not care less whether a = clean sound would have bothered a pianist of that era. I can be convinced I'm wrong, but it will take more persuasive arguments = than an appeal to historic accuracy in reproduction of function. Were this job for a history buff musician or a musical historical = society,=20 that would be completely different. I would then grovel and beg for every scrap of "how to do it as they did = it, no change whatsoever". This piano will never be played in a concert setting, and it is = extremely=20 unlikely that anyone beyond intermediate will play it, ever. It is likely that as many Christmas carols and Beatles tunes will be = played=20 as Bach or Mozart. Realistically, the odds of A: Someone complaining - "Gee, the dampers work too well for an old = square=20 and it bugs me" or B: Someone complaining - "Gee, the dampers sure seem muddy, can that be = fixed?" Well... If this were MY piano, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. I loathe even the tiniest damper over-ring in any piano I play, and even = the best Yamaha damping is just barely good enough for my tastes. It isn't "atmosphere", it's slop! ;-) Now, what say you, oh valiant protectors of atavistic sloppy = historicalnesses? (All in good fun y'all, convince me I'm wrong, and I'll admit it!)=20 ------------------------------ Kurt, I've been working on Square Grands for 30+ years. I've seen many = attempts at getting a Square Grand to Dampen like a Modern Piano. The = short statement is: It don't work!!! The problems with clearance, dictates that the felt be too short to do = any good. Also, clearance is the main factor to be considered, IMHO. You = can add modern Bi-Chord felt, more lead and even use springs. It won't = do a damned bit of good. Trust me!<G> It will only open up a large can = of worms! DAMHIK! My thought(s), is/are that if the client wants a "modern" sound, then = the only choice is a Modern Piano. The only reason I'm taking up this = cause, is to exemplify the foibles of this and hopefully keep you from = having a situation that cannot be resolved. You do what you think is going to do the job, but I'm here to tell you = this ain't the way to go. (period!) Try to prove me wrong, if'n ya = can.<G> Best Regards, Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain, Tool Police Squares R I ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/80/dc/50/3d/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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